Need some ideas on building benchwork. For HO is 1/2 in. plywood enough? What do you use for framework ? Is foam board recomended on top of plywood? Thanks
I usually build my bench work out of 1 by 4 lumber, some people prefer 3/4 plywood ripped down. 1/2 plywood will be good enough if you screw it down to enough braces. Foamboard is optional, my main layout dos'nt use any, but my add on extention does. It all depends on what you are trying to do and how you want to do it.
Yes 1/2" is good enough. I try to have supports every 16". If I can't have supports that close then I glue another piece of 1/2" plywood to the bottom of the first piece and clamp or screw it together overnight. If I use screws I remove them the next day. That way you are up to 1" of plywood on the longer spans. On top of the plywood you can use whatever type of roadbed you want, cork, homasote, or foam. The purpose of the roadbed is to provide a little sound deading and to provide a ballast profile. For the benchwork I like to use the 'L-Girder' method. I use 1 x 4's for the web and 1 x 2's for the plate of the girder. I then attach 1 x 4" to the top of the L-Girders. There is a book out on benchwork. You might check your library if you don't want to buy one.
Hey you two .. welcome to TrainBoard! We are very happy you have joined us I have always used 3/8 inch ply for subroadbed and 1/4 inch foamboard for the roadbed. I have had no problem with sagging and the foamboard really reduces the wheel / track noise significantly. In those places where vertical supports are a great distance from eachother, I place a narrow vertical strip of plywood under it, creating a "T" for added strength. It does not take a very wide strip either, so it's easy to hide with bridge superstructure materials. I don't know if it would make any difference, but I hand lay my ties, rail and turnouts using hot glue. No problem with expansion or shrinkage in my basement environment either. There are some who build benchwork in overkill ... built so that a grown man can walk on the rails! LOL But I tend to be a little more conservative. Soooo .. your 1/2 should work just fine.
On my benchwork I ripped 3/4" plywood into 5" strips and glued and screwed everytyhing together. I then used 1 1/2" pinkboard on top. I built it in sections because if I ever move (sure don't plan to) it will be easy to dismantle. A few things will get destroyed in a move but would still be usable overall. Pictures can be seen at my website listed below. [ 31 March 2002, 01:19: Message edited by: leghome ]
